Math 410 (Mathematics History for Secondary and Middle School Teachers)
Spring 2009

Basic Information | Homework Problems | Class Notes | Final Exam | Links

All students enrolled in Math 410 should also be enrolled simultaneously in Math 409 (Geometry for Secondary and Middle School Teachers).

• KU course line number: 76675
• Instructor: Prof. Jeremy Martin
  
  541 Snow, 864-7114
• Office hours: Monday 1--2, Thursday 11--12, or by appointment
  
• Syllabus
• Meeting times: Wednesday, 1:00-1:50 PM, 152 Snow
  
• Prerequisites: Math 122
• Textbooks: A variety of online resources

Here is the complete list of homework problems. I will add problems to the list as the semester progresses.

• Homework #1 (due Wednesday, January 28): Problems 1, 2, 3
• Homework #2 (due Wednesday, February 4): Problems 4, 5
• Homework #3 (due Wednesday, February 11): Problems 6, 7
• Homework #4 (due Wednesday, February 18): Problems 8, 9
• Homework #5 (due Wednesday, February 25): Problems 10, 11 (extra credit: 12)
• Homework #6 (due Wednesday, March 4): Problem 13
• Homework #7 (due Wednesday, March 11): Problem 14
• Homework #8 (due Wednesday, April 1): Problem 15
• Homework #9 (due Wednesday, April 8): Problem 16
• Homework #10 (due Wednesday, April 15): Problems 17, 18
• Homework #11 (due Wednesday, April 22): Problem 19

1. Ancient Babylonian and Egyptian geometry (1/21/09)
   
2. Greek mathematics through Pythagoras (1/28/09)
   
3. The circumference of the earth (2/4/09)
   
4. Prime numbers (2/11/09)
   
5. Three classical geometry problems (2/18/09)
6. The origins of graph theory (3/25/09)
7. The Four-Color Theorem (4/1/09)
8. Infinity (4/8/09)
9. Cantor's diagonal argument (4/15/09)

Sources for the material in these notes include:

• David Burton, Burton's History of Mathematics: An Introduction, 3rd edn., Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1991.
• The extensive online MacTutor History of Mathematics
• Prof. Judy Roitman's notes from previous incarnations of Math 410

Here's the final exam for Math 410.

The exam is a take-home project consisting of a set of questions on topics we didn't have time to cover in class. You may use any written source (notes, books, or reliable Web source). You may not ask any person any question (this includes other students, librarians, etc.) --- you should do your own research to find the answers.

Answers are due on Tuesday, May 12 at 1:00 PM (the time that the written final exam would end if we were having a written final exam). Turn in your solutions to Prof. Martin's office, Snow 541.

Mathematics links

• Math 409

Mathematical and technical writing information

• Writing in the Sciences (UNC Chapel Hill Writing Center)
• A Guide to Writing Mathematics and Mathematical Writing Checklist (Prof. Kevin Lee, Purdue)

KU links

• Jeremy Martin's home page
• KU Mathematics Department
• KU Registrar
• KU Bookstore
• KU policies on academic honesty
• KU Office of Disability Resources

Outside KU

• Get Acrobat Reader (free software, necessary to read PDF files on this page)